Method and Tools - Models and Computing StrategiesJoint with Interbull

Species - Aquaculture

Biology & Species - Bovine (Dairy)Joint with ICAR

Theory to ApplicationJoint with ICAR

1200 - 1330

Lunch

1330 - 1530

Species - Porcine

Methods and Tools - SoftwareJoint with Interbull

Biology - ReproductionJoint with ICAR

Species - Avian

1530 - 1600

Afternoon tea

1600 - 1800

Species - Equine

Method and Tools - PredictionJoint with Interbull

Biology - Disease ResistanceJoint with ICAR

Molecular Genetics

1800 - 2000

Wine and cheese reception

Tuesday 13 February

Time

Session

0645 - 0815

Breakfast Workshop - Kindly sponsored by Thermo Fisher
Genomic technology continues to evolve with advancements in next generation sequencing, content curation and software analysis tools. The workshop will discuss a variety of applications including high throughput genotyping for sustainable and selective breeding in sheep and salmon as well as simplified genetic testing in cattle using next generation sequencing. Thermo Fisher Scientific provides innovative tools and solutions to accelerate animal research. We invite you to learn how Axiom genotyping arrays, targeted Genotyping by Sequencing, diverse real-time PCR assays and easy-to-use software solutions can be applied to your breeding research programs. For smarter genomics in agriculture, partnering is the answer.

We invite you to learn how Axiom genotyping arrays, targeted genotyping by sequencing, diverse real-time PCR assays, and easy-to-use software solutions can be applied to your breeding research programs. For smarter genomics in agriculture, partnering is the answer. Customizing Genomic Profiles for Dairy and Beef Cattle Using Targeted GBS
Aaron Larsen, PhD

Low cost and high information content - the crux to achieving high penetrance of genomic technologies in the sheep sector
Donagh Berry

Have you be involved in mapping the pig genome, sequencing or using genomic data in research and commercial practice?
If so, please join Ann Bruce from the University of Edinburgh to take part in a focus group remembering your experiences. A glass of wine and cheese provided.
Project funded by the European Research Council. Please note that numbers will be limited.

1900 - 2200

Food Evolution Documentary

Wednesday 14 February

Field trips

Itinerary

Dairy EventTime: 0700 - 2230

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 6:45am at the latest.

All four buses depart the Aotea Centre at 7:00am.

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included with the tour. Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 6:30am.

There will be five buses in total, with four buses completing identical tours, and one bus separating for a special milk testing tour in the morning. The schedules are as follows:

Main tour: Four buses

Tour LIC's innovation farm to view the latest in on-farm technology. Participate in an interactive session on NZ farming systems.

Enjoy a BBQ lunch on a commercial dairy farm, with the chance to hear from a NZ farmer, and view their elite cattle.

Tour CRVs 'state of the art' collection facility, and meet their top breeding bulls during a bull parade.

Wrap up the day with a visit to the world famous Hobbiton movie set, where delegates will enjoy a standing dinner. Buses will then return to Auckland

Special tour: One bus
Note: This tour is limited to 30 delegates, and aimed at people who specialise in milk testing.

Tour the laboratory facilities of the two main milk-testing laboratories in New Zealand (MilkTestNZ and LIC).

MilkTestNZ is the central milk payment testing laboratory in NZ. This means they test milk on behalf of processors for milk payment purposes. MilkTestNZ also tests CRV's herd test samples.

Across the two labs delegates will view both FOSS and Bentley testing equipment. FOSS will give a technical presentation at MilkTestNZ. In addition, at the LIC facility the delegates can view the DNA and Animal Health laboratories.

In the afternoon delegates will enjoy a BBQ lunch hosted by LIC, and then join the main group for a tour of LIC's innovation farm and a standing dinner at the infamous hobbiton movie set.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear, that you can spray/ scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue (we will provide disinfectant).

Boot covers will be provided on the bus when you arrive at most venues – please keep your shoes covered until you get back on the bus.

Please do not touch the animals – Animals will be on display at most venues, please do not touch them

It's likely to be very hot – but it might pour with rain! Dress for heat, but pack a rain coat.

Food allergies/ requirements – we would like to get all delegates with food allergies/ special requirements on the same bus so that we can ensure you are catered for appropriately. This will be clearly labelled in the morning

Angus Event
Time: 0830 - 2130

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 8.15am at the latest.

Buses depart the Aotea Centre at 8.30am (sharp).

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included with the tour.

Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 7:30am.

Angus Event
This tour leaves Auckland and travels through the Waikato region to Waitomo where guests will be treated to a stunning tour of the limestone caves and marvel at the glow worms as they boat through the waters of Waitomo.

After lunch at Waitomo, the tour will travel to Storth Oaks Angus Stud only 35 minutes from the Caves.

Weather permitting the group will travel through the typical hill country sheep and beef property to the sale barn.

Storth Oaks is a leading NZ Angus breeding farm incorporating most modern technologies into their programme.
There will be a selection of stud cattle on display and viewed through the property and two sponsors - American Angus Association and Beef and Lamb Genetics will give presentations before drinks and a barbecue dinner supported by Performance Beef Breeders.

We will return back to the Aotea Centre at 9.30pm.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear, that you can spray/ scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue (we will provide disinfectant).

It's likely to be very hot – but it might pour with rain! Dress for heat, but pack a rain coat.

Equine EventTime: 0900 - 2100

Visit one of Australasia's largest and most successful Thoroughbred stud farms – pasture based horse production. Delegates will be treated to an afternoon at the Races followed by an evening meal.

Tree Selection and Breeding
Time: 0730 - 1815

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 7.15am at the latest.

Buses depart the Aotea Centre at 7.30am (sharp).

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included in the tour.

Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 7:00am.

Tree Selection and Breeding Event
This trip will be hosted by Scion geneticists and forest pathologists who use a range of technologies to improve tree growth, form, resistance to pests and diseases and wood quality.

The day will cover two important tree species for New Zealand; the iconic indigenous kauri tree (Agathis australis) and the backbone of the New Zealand planted forestry industry, Pinus radiata. You will visit a Pinus radiata planting and talk about tree breeding techniques and technologies including phenotyping, tree breeding and genomic selection.

We will discuss the latest disease to threaten P. radiata forests – Phytophthora pluvialis, and screening systems under development.
You will also visit native forests, with a focus on the iconic native kauri tree (Agathis australis). Kauri have spiritual and family ties to the tangata whenua (people of the land) of New Zealand. Kauri are currently being challenged by Kauri Dieback, caused by Phytophthora agathidicida.

We are lucky enough to be visiting a marae, a sacred meeting house for New Zealand tangata whenua. This is a special opportunity and one that requires participants to follow cultural protocols which will be clearly explained on the day. Please be prepared to remove your shoes as you enter the main meeting house on the marae. You may wish to consider your sock selection on the day. At the marae, discussions will cover the cultural importance of kauri, and the potential of genetics and genomics to help retain this iconic tree in the New Zealand landscape.

We will also have lunch at the marae, also a unique New Zealand experience.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear, that you can spray/ scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue (we will provide disinfectant).

Please bring a hat for the sun and sunburn cream – we will be supplying some sunburn cream if you do forget.

Morning and afternoon tea as well as lunch, will be provided.

Te Puke Plant and Food Research
Time: 0900 - 2130

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 8.45am at the latest.

Buses depart the Aotea Centre at 9.00am (sharp).

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included with the tour.

Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 7:30am.

Te Puke Plant and Food Research Event
This tour is hosted by the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research.

Plant and Food is the world's largest horticultural research company, supporting fruit, vegetable, crop and food industries. The Te Puke Research Centre (2.5 -3 hours south of Auckland) is situated in the beautiful Bay of Plenty and it is home to the largest kiwifruit research orchard in the world.

The day will start with a presentation about Plant and Food's Seafood Research (as we cannot get you to Nelson in the South Island) and our work with the seafood industry to optimise the value of seafood harvests. We have included a visit to Plant and Food Research kiwifruit orchard; the orchard covers 50 Ha and houses the biggest single collection of Actinidia species outside of China which is used extensively by the breeding and other research teams.

After the visit we will be heading to the Hobbiton set in Matamata where there will be a light barbeque and refreshments in conjunction with some of the other tours, before buses depart Hobbiton and return to Auckland.

We will return back to the Aotea Centre at 9.30pm.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear, that you can spray/ scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue (we will provide disinfectant).

It's likely to be very hot – but it might pour with rain! Dress for heat, but pack a rain coat.

Deer and Sheep Event
Time: 0600 - 2130

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 5.45am at the latest.

Buses depart the Aotea Centre at 6.00am (sharp).

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included with the tour.

Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 5:30am.

Deer and Sheep Event
You will visit deer and sheep (terminal and maternal flocks) properties and listen to Focus Genetics and AgResearch staff discussing their breeding programme.

This includes Focus Genetics deer breeding programme, DNA parentage, DeerSelect and introduction of genotyping by sequencing for DNA parentage, breed composition and genomics selection. Sheep includes terminal sire flocks selected for growth, meat production and meat quality and is accompanied by talks on their genomic selection programme with a similar set of talks for their maternal programme.

Trip includes a Barbeque morning tea, lunch and a light dinner.

We will return back to the Aotea Centre at 9.30pm.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear that you can spray / scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue if that is required.

It's likely to be very hot – but it might pour with rain! Dress for heat, but pack a rain coat.

Images courtesy of Pamu Farms of New Zealand, Te Anau

Alexander Farming Genetics / Hobbiton Event
Time: 0800 - 2030

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 7.45am at the latest.

Buses depart the Aotea Centre at 8.00am (sharp).

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included with the tour.

Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 7:00am.

The property has some of the most FE-tolerant sheep in New Zealand due to their involvement in Facial Eczema trials with AgResearch since 1978. They are currently initiating a lot of work in the area of genomics and see this as the next increase in productivity, through increased genetic gain.

The farm is also home to the world famous Hobbiton Movie Set where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The group will be taken on a private tour of the Alexander family sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges.

There will be presentations in the morning from Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics on recent developments, including the transformation of the New Zealand sheep industry's performance recording and genetic evaluation database. Today, the database holds information for more than 600 flocks – making it the largest genetic evaluation of sheep in the world.

After lunch, a guide will escort you around the Hobbiton set, showing the intricate detailing, pointing out the most famous locations and explaining how the movie magic was made. Once the tour has finished, there will be a light barbeque and refreshments, before buses depart Hobbiton and return to Auckland.

We will return back to the Aotea Centre at 8.30pm.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear, that you can spray/ scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue (we will provide disinfectant).

Please do not touch the animals – Animals will be on display, please do not touch them.

It's likely to be very hot – but it might pour with rain! Dress for heat, but pack a rain coat.

Aquaculture Event
Time: 0800 - 1730

Departure Information

Please meet in the BNZ Foyer at 8.00am at the latest.

All delegates will depart at 8.30am (sharp) on foot to the Ferry Terminal (15 mins away).

Please ensure you have your breakfast prior to departure as this is not included with the tour.

Complimentary coffee will be provided at the Aotea Centre from 7:00am.

Aquaculture Event
This tour leaves Auckland and travels by ferry to Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. In just 40 minutes we will arrive at the beautiful island, home of great wineries and some of New Zealand's finest farmed Pacific oysters.

A bus will take us to the Te Matuku Marine Reserve at the south east corner of Waiheke Island. There we will tour a Pacific oyster farm, Te Matuku Oysters, hosted by the manager who will provide an overview of how oysters are farmed in New Zealand and describe the company's involvement in the oyster selective breeding programme.

Lunch will be held at one of the Island's wineries 'Cable Bay' followed by presentations about the use of selective breeding in New Zealand aquaculture and the benefits this has brought to the industry. There will be an opportunity to discuss the future of breeding and genomics in this growing global industry.

In the afternoon we will take a conservation tour of the island and stop off at key attractions, including the chance to stroll through some native bush before heading back to the big city on the ferry.

We will return back to the Ferry Terminal at 5.30pm.

Things you need to know:

Biosecurity is very important – your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Please wear clean, sturdy footwear, that you can spray/ scrub when arriving at and leaving each venue (we will provide disinfectant).

It's likely to be very hot – but it might pour with rain! Dress for heat, but pack a rain coat.

Dairy Sheep EventTime: 0700 - 2200

There is a rapidly emerging dairy sheep industry in New Zealand. The original dairy flock was predominantly East Friesian based, but recently, two major new flocks have imported new genetics.

The tour will involve a visit to both Southern Cross and Spring Sheep Milk Co in Taupo providing an opportunity to see how they are developing breeding strategies and management systems within the newly emerging sector.

Visit a coastal sheep, beef and dairy farm and end the day with a caving adventure!

Limestone Downs, owned by the C. Alma Baker Trust, has been used for sheep, beef and dairy research for over 70 years. www.calmabakertrust.org
The farm is currently host to the Beef+LambNZ Genetics Dairy Beef Progeny test, in which 80 beef bulls have been used over 800 dairy cows for two years to produce 1200 crossbred calves. The calves were born in 2016 and 2017 and are being reared for processing at 2 years of age.

This trip departs Auckland at 9.30am, before heading south to Port Waikato. Arriving at Limestone Downs, the tour will start with lunch at the woolshed, where you'll get to see the 2017 calves from the Progeny Test, and hear about the progress of the progeny test to date. A tour of the sheep and beef farm will take in the ram-breeding flock, 18-month-old cattle from the progeny test, and sweeping coastal views. Weather permitting, we will stop at the black-sand beach, before visiting the five-year-old dairy conversion where we will see cows milked through the 60-bail rotary cowshed.
The day will wrap up with a visit to Nikau caves, where you will have the option of either wet or dry caving adventures, or a simply relax in the picturesque gardens, before enjoying a barbeque dinner. www.nikaucave.co.nz

Thursday 15 February

Time

Session

0730 - 1830

Registration and information desk open
Exhibition and electronic posters open

0830 - 0930

Plenary: Peter Dearden
Title: The architecture of a plastic trait

0930 - 1000

Morning tea

1000 - 1200

Biology - Feed Intake and Efficiency

Methods and Tools - Models and Computing Strategies

Genetic Gain - Breeding Objectives and Economics of Selection Schemes

Molecular Genetics

Species - Bovine (Beef)

1200 - 1330

Lunch

1330 - 1530

Species - Porcine

Knowledge - Education and Training

Technologies - Gene Editing

Genetic Gain - Strategies for Local Breeds

Species - Ovine

1530 - 1600

Afternoon tea

1600 - 1800

Technologies - Genotyping

Species - Caprine

Biology - Behaviour

Methods and Tools - Prediction

Biology - Reproduction

1800 - 1930

Pig Genome History - Ann Bruce

Have you be involved in mapping the pig genome, sequencing or using genomic data in research and commercial practice?If so, please join Ann Bruce from the University of Edinburgh to take part in a focus group remembering your experiences. A glass of wine and cheese provided. Project funded by the European Research Council. Please note that numbers will be limited.

Friday 16 February

Time

Session

0730 - 1830

Registration and information desk open
Exhibition and electronic posters open